Expert Member

I always felt woolies was too lax with security. When I pass my bags from another store to the security to seal, they smirk at me and say" this is Woolworths we don't do that here". It's kinda biting them on the ass now

Executive Member

I always felt woolies was too lax with security. When I pass my bags from another store to the security to seal, they smirk at me and say" this is Woolworths we don't do that here". It's kinda biting them on the ass now

Honorary Master

DURBAN - The KwaZulu-Natal top cop has spoken, police officers must abide and be searched at Woolworths stores in the province amid threats at the store with incendiary devices in recent weeks.

The province’s top cop said police officers in uniform should not be shopping in the first place, and has called on commanders to enforce police orders.

Police officers had bemoaned that they had to be searched at local stores amid a policy by the store that all customers be searched before entering the store.

One police officer described the searching of officers as “totally unacceptable”.

In a Daily News article published on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said when asked about police being searched at the Woolies stores: “If this is happening, I’m saying it shouldn’t happen - not in a public area. If they want to insist on the police officer being searched, the police officer can refuse”.

Because you are having a non law enforcement officer search another which means he allows someone close enough to actually take their weapon or disarm them. I hear you regarding false uniforms but this opens another kettle of fish.

Executive Member

Because you are having a non law enforcement officer search another which means he allows someone close enough to actually take their weapon or disarm them. I hear you regarding false uniforms but this opens another kettle of fish.

Executive Member

Because you are having a non law enforcement officer search another which means he allows someone close enough to actually take their weapon or disarm them. I hear you regarding false uniforms but this opens another kettle of fish.

Honorary Master

Because you are having a non law enforcement officer search another which means he allows someone close enough to actually take their weapon or disarm them. I hear you regarding false uniforms but this opens another kettle of fish.

As Izzy said, private property and right of admission reserved, so if they are coming in without a crime being committed then the owner has the legal right to impose a search restriction on them. If they don't like it they than can shop elsewhere.

Honorary Master

As Izzy said, private property and right of admission reserved, so if they are coming in without a crime being committed then the owner has the legal right to impose a search restriction on them. If they don't like it they than can shop elsewhere.

What is the point of the search restriction though? This country has open carry laws and policemen are always visibly armed, a search is not going to tell you anything or prevent anything. And I'm questioning that legal right as there are a number of very strong policies about an officer being put in the position of "vulnerability" if you follow. Certainly they can be denied entry , as is the owners right but there are restrictions to right of admission and around law enforcement can be one of them. Not that it gives an officer carte blanche, I'm just saying its a very fine line.

Honorary Master

What is the point of the search restriction though? This country has open carry laws and policemen are always visibly armed, a search is not going to tell you anything or prevent anything. And I'm questioning that legal right as there are a number of very strong policies about an officer being put in the position of "vulnerability" if you follow. Certainly they can be denied entry , as is the owners right but there are restrictions to right of admission and around law enforcement can be one of them. Not that it gives an officer carte blanche, I'm just saying its a very fine line.

Quite a few can carry additional, not to mention depending have some other gear ( teargas etc which may contain some form of charge ). Look , one could very easily manufacture a small device ( NO, I will not specify how , don't be stupid! ) that would even pass a search, for the simple fact in how it is disguised as a standard every day carry item. I'm not talking about the responding to a crime or entry, my concern is the huge onus placed on officers around the responsibility of what they carry.

Give you an example, if they keep any weapons at home, it has to both adhere to normal gun laws as well as some more stringent requirements, especially if they are automatic. Even if adhering to those rules, the weapons are still stolen, the officer is generally in very very deep **** and undergoes a massive investigation.

In a previous life, many many many years ago, I was a child who grew up in a typical Portuguese tearoom shop and we never, suspected or prevented having police around, in fact it was encouraged and the local precinct used to actually shop with us quite often and we went through lengths to make them welcome. Not to say we never kept a gun under the counter but they always had our backs and we had a number of situations over the years. Sure, times have changed but I think it's a tricky line to walk and not one I would encourage from either the store owners perspective OR a person in charge of the officers.

Expert Member

Give you an example, if they keep any weapons at home, it has to both adhere to normal gun laws as well as some more stringent requirements, especially if they are automatic. Even if adhering to those rules, the weapons are still stolen, the officer is generally [should be] in very very deep **** and undergoes a massive investigation.